Officially: Aston Villa announces the signing of Evan Gissand

Aston Villa FC has announced the signing of French striker Evan Gissand from Nice, for an undisclosed fee.

Gissand, who is 24 years old, joins just days before the start of the new season of the English Premier League, as part of strengthening the attack at the request of coach Unai Emery.

In his first statements, Gissand expressed his happiness at joining the team, stating: "I am very happy to be here, I have been waiting for this moment for a long time, and now I am excited to start playing, see the fans, and get to know my teammates."

Gissand explained that the team's coach Unai Emery was the main reason behind his decision, noting that he had been following Aston Villa during the past seasons, and said: "My conversation with the coach was the turning point; we know well his career and his ability to develop players, and I was thinking about that."

He added: "I am a young player and I strive to develop; I have many aspects that I can improve, and when I spoke with him, I felt he was the right coach for me."

Although the English club did not disclose the value of the deal, some media reports indicated that the transfer cost Aston Villa 35 million euros.